A BIKER who died after crashing into a van carrying motorbikes in Betchworth was a “brilliant” father and partner, loved ones have said.

An inquest was held on Wednesday (December 1) into the death of Peter Finch, a builder who was riding with another motorcyclist on the afternoon of Sunday, March 28 this year, after leaving the bikers’ meet at Box Hill.

They had travelled around Surrey in the spring sunshine, but as they went east on their way home on the A25 in Betchworth, Mr Finch was involved in the fatal collision, Surrey Coroner’s Court heard.

The 44-year-old from Croydon was an experienced motorcyclist, said his partner of 28-years, Deborah Anderson.

“He used to go out mostly weekends and evenings,” she said.

“He did used to race all over the place, Snetterton, Donnington and other places.

“He had gone down to Box Hill [that day] to meet Mark Roberts and other bikers and go off riding, which they quite frequently did.

“I was getting a bit worried when it got to about half past five. He would have been back for Sunday dinner.”

Surrey Police were called at 2.51pm, and collision investigator Chris Annetts was soon on the scene, where the road was closed to allow an air ambulance to land so paramedics could treat Mr Finch’s head injury.

Their attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. A post-mortem examination revealed a skull fracture caused his death.

Mr Annetts said: “It was a fine and sunny day, the road surface was dry. At that time of day, according to other people we have spoken to, the traffic was fairly light.

“There is an unmade track which goes up towards the railway line. It was from there that the transit van emerged from. If you are looking to the right, the view from that track is about 220 metres.”

“I recall seeing a van pulling out of the dirt track at hardly any speed whatsoever,” he added. “I slowed down and Peter moved towards the centre of the road.

“He [the van driver] did pull out extremely slowly. Peter has gone to the right to prepare to go round the vehicle. The vehicle has edged into the centre of the road - it appeared to me he was going to go right.

“Peter moved to the inside and then the van has moved in. I could see there was about to be contact.”

Mr Roberts estimated the bikes were going between 50mph and 60mph before the incident. The speed limit on the stretch is 50mph.

“I had plenty of time to slow down,” Mr Roberts added, and he came to a stop after the collision.

“Peter was between a [parked] Range Rover and the van,” he said. “He was lying on the floor between the two vehicles. The motorcycle had gone into the front drive of a house.”

James White was a passenger in the white transit van being driven by his son Anthony. They had two motorcycles in the back of the vehicle, having been to a trial up the dirt track.

“You cannot come down the dirt track fast, you have to go slow,” the elder Mr White said. “[When turning out] you have to go towards the middle of the road before you can turn back.”

Mr White spoke of the moment the crash happened.

“It was the sound and being thrown forward and my seatbelt catching me,” he said. “The impact was considerable.

“I looked in the mirror. I could see the rider lying on his back.”

Tests showed both vehicles were in good condition before the collision, but the impact of the crash broke a leaf spring on a wheel of the van.

Mr Annetts said: “I cannot calculate the speed [of the motorbike]. I feel it must have been fairly high to cause that damage to the van. Normally that kind of damage would be caused by being hit by a lorry.”